Foreign journalists representing 12 overseas media agencies from countries such as the United States, Russia, South Korea, and Japan embarked on a three-day trip to Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province on Sept 9.
The reporters will tour some of Jinan's most famous scenic spots, including Baotu Spring and Mingfucheng Historical Area, and visit the headquarters of some of the city's leading companies, including Sinotruck and Jinan International Center for Medical Sciences.
Yang Feng, director of the Jinan municipal publicity department, welcomed the foreign guests and expressed hope that their visit will help to strengthen the city's international relations.
Jinan, or the City of Springs as it's commonly known, is home to numerous natural springs and weeping willows, which gives the city a distinct feel unlike any other city in the country.
Jinan is also home to world leading quantum communication and supercomputing sectors. Over 1,000 foreign-invested companies operate in the city, including 129 Fortune Global 500 enterprises.
As part of the recently established Shandong Pilot Free Trade Area, Jinan offers an increasingly favorable business environment for overseas companies.
The media tour, sponsored by China Daily, is part of a series entitled "Overseas Media Tour China".
China Daily holds foreign media tours annually and invites journalists from across the world to explore China and learn about the country's robust economy, unique culture and flourishing tourism industry.
To date, more than 30 activities have been held in Shandong, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, attracting over 300 photographers, writers and reporters from nearly 100 foreign media outlets.
At the unveiling ceremony, China Daily also signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Jinan to help lift the city's international image and attract more foreign investment.
